The Common Creative

In this special episode of The Common Creative podcast, Paul Fairweather and Chris Meredith celebrate Australia Creativity Day 2024, emphasising the importance of creativity in everyday life. Paul and Chris engage in a lively discussion about how businesses and individuals can benefit from fostering a creative mindset to navigate the rapidly changing world. The conversation touches on various them...

In this caffeine-loaded episode of The Common Creative podcast , hosts Chris Meredith and Paul Fairweather explore the stimulating connection between caffeine and creativity with guest Dean Merlo , the founder of Merlo Coffee. The discussion brews with insights into the impact of coffee culture on business innovation and how simple changes revolutionise consumer experience. Dean shares his journey...

This week’s episode, Scott Andrew James is a multifaceted creative located in Austin, Texas, who operates in the dual roles of a book coach and a roving poet. Scott found his true calling in the world of words. He ultimately discovered his passion for creating interactive, co-creative poetry. Using his grandfather's 1946 Smith Corona typewriter,  Scott's creative journey began with an unconvention...

World Story Telling Day was originally created in Sweden to encourage people to tell stories and build better connections. This year’s theme “Building Bridges” seems particularly poignant. In this snippet, Paul and Chris celebrate World Story Telling Day 2024 with a conversation about the history of the event, the role of story telling in bringing people together and a review of some of the episod...

“When you first see a new idea [for a book cover], don’t judge it immediately. Instead,sleep on it and let it mull” “It really helps to trust great creatives - they  need the space to do their best work” “A real, printed book avoids information overload. It is a one-to-one connection with the author” Our guest this week is Miranda West, the visionary founder and publisher behind The Do Book Co., a...

Roger Dennis is a seasoned expert in the art of “foresight” - guiding leaders beyond conventional strategic planning and short time frames. Drawing from his academic background in psychology and zoology, Dennis offers a distinct perspective on long-term trends and their impacts on businesses and society. Renowned for his skill in crafting powerful narratives, he helps business leaders to think bey...

Welcome to The Common Creative with Dan Golden and Jen Huh. Dan Golden and Jen Huh are a dynamic creative duo known for their playful and humorous design approach. Dan's expertise in design and rug collections merges seamlessly with Jen's background in poetry and photography, resulting in their unique brand, "U ME U," offering cozy throws infused with creativity. Join us as Dan and Jen share their...

Welcome to the 101st episode of The Common Creative podcast!  In this week's episode, we sit down with Nick Jaffe, a multifaceted individual who embodies the ethos of not just creative thinking, but also creative execution. With a diverse array of experiences under his belt, Nick has ventured into solo sales across the globe, established successful businesses centered around Canvas and leather pro...

“Work hard and deep focus are the most important things we can do” “You shouldn’t try to be someone else - you have to be you” “I’m a stubborn mule” " The quest isn't becoming less, the quest is how to become more. How do we dial up the crazy shit more? ” “ Sometimes you're in a part of your life where you're at a crossroads and you have to turn left or right. You just don't know which one.” Welco...

"If obituaries can't be fun, what's the point of dying?" - James Hagerty  Known to his friends as Bob, James Hagerty has an illustrious career as a staff reporter and editor for The Wall Street Journal spanning over four decades, covering stories across the U.S., Asia, and Europe. James Hagerty is the author of "Yours Truly," a remarkable guide to crafting life stories. This exceptional book has g...

Welcome to this week's episode featuring Kat Driscoll, the visual artist, designer, and creator behind Bobbi Frances jewelry. Kat shares a captivating story of how she entered the business of statement jewelry, and her brightly coloured vibrant work is a testament to joy, happiness, and brightness, delivering a truly uplifting experience. Bobbi Frances specializes in crafting vibrant, one-of-a-kin...

Troy and Zara Love are directors of presentation skills training company “Great Talk”, and renowned Australian stand-up comics. (Fun fact, they’re a married couple who chose the family name “Love” because they love what they do and they love each other!) From award-winning breakfast radio hosts to live event MC’s for major companies, they bring over 30 years of experience, captivating an audience...

“Never pick an argument with someone who buys ink by the barrel”.   Brock Swinson is a filmmaker, screenwriter, interviewer for Creative Screenwriting Magazine and presenter of Creative Principles Podcast.   His new book “Ink by the Barrel - secrets of Prolific Writers” references a quote by William Greener, which suggests that the key to great creativity lies in delivering work in volume rather t...

How does a film director balance the desire for a high octane creative output with the practicalities of lights, cameras and action? And what draws a talented writer to focus his energy on the crazy world of Sci-Fi comedy? Stimson Snead is based in Los Angeles and is an award-winning director and writer with a passion for independent film, unexpected perspectives, and stories infused with themes o...

Dr. Kristy Goodwin is an expert in digital well-being and productivity and the author of “Dear Digital We Need To Talk” -a guide to developing realistic, research-based ways to cultivate healthy and helpful digital habits.  With her extensive background as a speaker, author, researcher, and consultant, Kristy provides invaluable insights into the impact of digital technologies on the health, well-...

In this week's episode, we are thrilled to introduce Dr. Mark Williams, a distinguished neuroscientist  and educator who is on a mission to create a ‘brain healthy world’.  During the show, we delve into the intricate relationship between technology and the human brain.  Mark, sheds new light on the detrimental effects technology, particularly on our creative faculties. (He suggests a couple of po...

Nik Robinson is the founder of Good Citizens, a company dedicated to untrashing the planet by  transforming plastic waste into stylish eyewear.  Nik's diverse career has taken him from being a radio broadcaster and creative director to a donut maker and lecturer. He's driven by a deep passion for utilizing his creative talents to address critical issues and drive positive change. In 2018, he embar...

This week's episode features Avi Liran - “The Eternal Optimist”.  A professional speaker and trainer, Avi's message is clear: the best way to nurture your soul is through the habit of seeing things positively and bringing delight into the world.  (As he points out, if you wake up each morning in a real bed with access to running water you’re already much more lucky than millions of others).  In th...

Welcome to this week's episode featuring Steve Sharp, the 'workplace whisperer.' Steve shares his wisdom on cultivating workplace creativity and improving teamwork. Discover how to foster a culture where individuals feel empowered to contribute and collaborate effectively. With over 25 years of experience leading large teams and conducting more than 150 leadership development and high-performance...

A creative powerhouse with a reputation that most can only dream about,, Scott Belsky  wears many hats: entrepreneur, author, investor, and now an integral part of Adobe's leadership team. He's the genius behind Behance, the go-to online platform for the creative industry, where talent is showcased and discovered. Scott led Behance as CEO until Adobe's acquisition in 2012. His influence extends be...

Step right into our creative snippet, a mini-episode that provides a glimpse of this week's main attraction featuring, Lenny Ravich, a presenter, teacher, an author and has a youthful spirit that's truly inspiring. Join Chris and Paul as they explore the profound art of reframing everyday events and how humor can ignite creative thinking.  This episode is a joyful journey into the world of humour...

Lenny Ravich, 87,  joins us from Tel Aviv in Israel at 1:00 AM local time - a supremely youthful presenter, teacher  and author of the best-selling book, "Everlasting Optimism."    Lenny is also the co-creator of “Delivering Delight” alongside Avi Liran, where they offer crazy-sounding keynotes on "Dance Life. Don't Drag It" and workshops on "Humour and Laughter as a Way of Life."  But there's mor...

Embark on a journey into the world of creativity with our mini episode, a glimpse of our featured conversation with the multi-talented Joey Coleman. As a lawyer, coach, singer, and watercolorist, Joey effortlessly blends the realms of art and business, with a special emphasis on visual and cyber creativity. Join your Chris and Paul, as they delve into a captivating discussion with Joey. Discover h...

Welcome to this week's episode, featuring Joey Coleman -  lawyer,  coach, singer, and watercolorist. Joey weaves creativity into the world of business, with a particular focus on visual and cyber creativity. (If there's one thing Joey exemplifies, it's the power of showing someone something in a way that makes them believe so that they’re motivated to help). Joey's Wall Street Journal #2 best-sell...

Welcome to this week’s creative snippet, offering a sneak peek into this week's featured episode featuring Kristi Herold, as the author of "It Pays to Play" and the CEO of JAM, Kristi sheds light on the captivating concept of play as a transformative force for business and creativity.   Join Chris and Paul as they embark on a fascinating conversation about Kristi's insights. Discover how seemingly...